This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ugandan judiciary has taken a significant step towards embracing digital solutions to ensure continuity of services. According to a report published on June 18, 2020, the judiciary has automated case filing, courtroom hearings, and the issuance of legal summonses and court orders, marking a shift away from manual systems that were slow and inefficient.
With the help of the National Information Technology Authority of Uganda, 80 courts have been equipped with video conferencing tools, while others have been installed in Luzira and Kitalya prisons. However, the use of video conferencing in prisons and courts has been restricted to bail hearings during the lockdown, which was implemented in March to prevent the spread of the virus among judicial officers, suspects, and the general public within court premises.
Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, the head of the Judiciary's Technology Committee, has expressed hopes that an electronic court case management system will be installed by the end of the year. This system will enable anyone with a mobile phone to track the progress of a particular case online in real-time.
Furthermore, the judiciary is considering interlinkages between its digital platforms and electronic databases maintained by the Police, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General's Office, lands registry, and National Identification and Registration Authority.
As part of its efforts to adapt to the new normal, the judiciary has issued guidelines allowing the resumption of court operations. These guidelines stipulate that no more than five critical people, including a judge or magistrate, lawyers for the parties, and their clients, are allowed in each courtroom, while the same number is allowed in the gallery.
